This is a collection of news about border issues, particularly those seen from Arizona and regarding the right to keep and bear arms. Sources often include Mexican media. It's often interesting to see how different the view is from the south.
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A special agent of the state Attorney General was shot late Friday while following two cars believed to be involved in a Mexican drug cartel, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

The undercover agent was shot in the shoulder and neck around 4:15 p.m by one of the suspects he was following in the area of 91st Avenue and Mountain View Road in Peoria, DPS Capt. Steve Harrison said.

When the suspects realized they were being followed, they began driving aggressively, Harrison said. The driver of a white pickup truck circled back behind the officer and began ramming the agent's car. The second car, a gold Chrysler Pacifica, remained in front of the agent. The truck then pulled parallel with agent's car and the driver shot the agent, Harrison said. The agent was treated and released from the hospital, said Amy Rezzonico, an AG's spokeswoman.

Harrison said the agent is part of a multi-agency drug task force and that other officers in the area were monitoring him and responded when he was shot.The driver of the white truck has been arrested, and police were still looking for the occupants of the Pacifica late Friday. Peoria police and DPS are investigating the shooting.

Police say he was on the trail of some known drug dealers when the tables were turned on him. He was shot while he was inside of his unmarked car.

The officer was part of a DPS Task Force conducting surveillance on a large drug ring. While he was following one of the cars, it appears they caught on, and started chasing the officer.

It ended when the suspect vehicle rammed the undercover officer's car. That's when another car pulled up, and they fired one shot upon the officer.

The shooter's vehicle got away, but the driver of the truck was taken into custody. Police are looking for the two occupants of the shooter's vehicle.

It has not been confirmed, but the incident could be cartel-related."They were known to be cocaine dealers, fairly significant amounts of cocaine, the Drug Task Force had been working these people since December... we don't know that, but based on the amount of cocaine these people were known to deal with, that's probably a likelihood, but we don't know that for sure at this point," says DPS Cpt. Steve Harrison.

The bullet hit the officer in the shoulder and lodged in his neck. He is still in the hospital but is expected to be ok.We should note, the officer is an investigator with the Attorney General's Office who was assigned to the Task Force.

TUCSON — Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson Sector working the West Desert area seized 4,891 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of $2,445,500 in three separate incidents within a 24- hour period.On April 7, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Casa Grande station working near Stanfield, discovered a stolen crew-cab pickup in the desert south of Interstate 8. Further inspection of the vehicle yielded 1,704 pounds of marijuana. The narcotics, with an estimated value of $852,000, were seized and the stolen vehicle was turned over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

In a separate incident, Casa Grande agents followed tire tracks to a vehicle hidden inside an obscure area. Agents discovered 1,761 pounds of marijuana after removing the tarp covering the 2006 Chevy pickup truck. The narcotics, with an estimated value of $880,500, were seized and the vehicle stolen from Goodyear, was turned over to the Pinal County Sheriffs Office.Also on that day, agents assigned to the Ajo Station responded to a citizen's report of two vehicles that had driven off the road east of State Route 85. Agents apprehended a Mexican national and discovered a second vehicle that had rolled on its side with the assistance from a CBP helicopter. Both pickup trucks contained a combined 1,462 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $731,000. The vehicles were seized and the subject is being prosecuted on federal drug charges.As a result of the Border Patrol's increased efforts to disrupt and deny transnational criminal organizations from operating in the Tucson Sector, smugglers often abandon their drug loads rather than risk apprehension and face prosecution.In March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security launched the Southwest Border Initiative to bring unprecedented focus and intensity to securing the Southwest border, coupled with a reinvigorated, smart, and effective approach to enforcing our immigration laws.The Border Patrol welcomes assistance from the community. Report suspicious activity by calling toll free 1-877-872-7435. All calls will be answered and will remain anonymous.

They say 16 suspected illegal immigrants were taken into custody in Friday's first bust.Deputies arrested 15 more at another drop house where some of the people barricaded themselves inside. The sheriff's SWAT team was called out to assist and seven others people were arrested.Authorities say some of the 38 in custody could be human smugglers.

The busts were part of the sheriff office's ongoing "Operation Desert Sky" that's designed to crack down on human smugglers and marijuana smugglers in Arizona's most populous county.

PHOENIX - The U.S. Marshals Service in Arizona says a fugitive roundup in Maricopa and Pinal counties has resulted in more than 250 arrests.Authorities say seven of the 256 fugitives were wanted for sexual offenses.

Results of the ``Operation Justice III'' were announced Friday.The roundup also got 16 weapons off the street and resulted in the seizure of nearly 23 pounds of marijuana and other drugs.``Operation Justice III'' was a one-week collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement officers.The Marshals Service in Arizona coordinated the effort to coincide with National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

In this year leading up to Arizona's centennial, Feb. 14, 2012, we'll reprint a story or excerpts each day from the Arizona Daily Star or Tucson Citizen archives.April 9, 1912DOUGLAS - What is believed by the military authorities to have been smuggling of ammunition upon a large scale will probably be broken up by the stationing of a patrol of 11 troopers of the Fourth Cavalry at the San Bernardino ranch of John H. Slaughter, 16 miles east of Douglas. The detail was sent to the ranch, after investigation made by Captain Gordon H. Kimball, in command here, and following request of Mr. Slaughter.The first intimation of ammunition smuggling was had several days ago when line fences were found to have been cut and the ranch entered from the Mexican side. Around the gap were ammunition boxes, completely emptied, which had evidently contained at least 2,000 rounds of shells.Captain Kimball, in speaking of the matter yesterday, stated that he had no doubt ammunition running had been done in the past. His theory was that the bandits who were in Canon Bonita several weeks ago had received a supply of cartridges by train. They were removed at the station and carried to the line. The bandits filled their belts there and abandoned the boxes. He feels certain that no recurrence of the exploit will be had while the patrol is stationed at the ranch.- Arizona Daily Star

Note: more local stuffFormer sub director of Naco PD killed.http://elperiodicodeap.com.mx/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=2701:ex-policia-ejecutado-en- naco&catid=34:noticias&Itemid=78Town of Cajeme, Son. asking for help from military against organized crime.